Optical hyperpolarization using a solid catalyst

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a hyperpolarizing system, comprising a hyperpolarization reaction chamber having a location therein for supporting a solid catalyst with a sample in contact therewith, a cooler configured to lower a temperature of the sample and the solid catalyst to a temperature in a range of about 70K and about 250K, and an optical light source configured to direct light energy toward the solid catalyst to thereby hyperpolarize electrons in the solid catalyst and facilitate transfer of hyperpolarization to nuclei of the sample.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hyperpolarizing system, comprising:
 a hyperpolarization reaction chamber having a location therein for supporting a solid catalyst with a sample in contact therewith;   a cooler configured to lower a temperature of the sample and the solid catalyst to a temperature in a range of about 70K and about 250K; and   an optical light source configured to direct light energy toward the solid catalyst to thereby hyperpolarize electrons in the solid catalyst and facilitate transfer of hyperpolarization to nuclei of the sample.   
     
     
         2 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is frozen or in a glassy state in the temperature configured by the cooler. 
     
     
         3 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is a flowable sample. 
     
     
         4 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample includes particles. 
     
     
         5 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooler is configured to lower the temperature of the sample and the solid catalyst to at least one of a temperature in a range of about 70K and about 220K, a temperature in a range of about 70K and about 200K, or a temperature in a range of about 70K and about 120K. 
     
     
         6 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical light source is configured to emit at least one of non-collimated light or green light. 
     
     
         7 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical light source includes at least one of a laser configured to direct light at about 538 nm or a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         8 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one processor configured to control at least one of the optical light source, the cooler, or a flow of the sample in order to facilitate the transfer of hyperpolarization to the nuclei of the flowable sample. 
     
     
         9 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one microwave source. 
     
     
         10 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 1 , wherein the solid catalyst includes a plurality of nanostructured diamond substrates with nanoscopic three-dimensional structures across a surface thereof, each substrate hosting defects with optically polarizable electron spins. 
     
     
         11 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of nanostructured diamond substrates are arranged in a stack, and wherein the stack has a plurality of channels therethrough, the channels being configured to permit a polarizable fluidic agent to flow through the nanoscopic three-dimensional structures of the plurality of nanostructured diamond substrates in the stack. 
     
     
         12 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 10 , wherein each substrate is associated with its own holder. 
     
     
         13 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 10 , wherein the nanoscopic three-dimensional structures each have a size range of about 50 nm to about 5000 nm. 
     
     
         14 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 11 , wherein the channels include pathways through at least one membrane surface. 
     
     
         15 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 11 , wherein the channels include pathways between adjacent membranes. 
     
     
         16 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 11 , wherein the channels include pathways through at least one membrane surface and between adjacent membranes. 
     
     
         17 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of nanostructured diamond substrates includes at least 10 stacked nanostructured diamond substrates, at least 50 stacked nanostructured diamond substrates, or at least 100 stacked nanostructured diamond substrates. 
     
     
         18 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of nanostructured diamond substrates are coated with endogenous molecules having polarizable nuclear spin. 
     
     
         19 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 10 , wherein each substrate has a thickness between about 1 μm and about 100 μm. 
     
     
         20 . The hyperpolarizing system of  claim 10 , wherein each substrate includes at least one honeycomb-shaped cut. 
     
     
         21 . A hyperpolarizing catalyst, comprising:
 a plurality of nanostructured diamond substrates with nanoscopic three-dimensional structures across a surface thereof, each substrate hosting defects with optically polarizable electron spins, wherein   the plurality of nanostructured diamond substrates are arranged in a stack, and wherein the stack has a plurality of channels therethrough, the channels being configured to permit a polarizable fluidic agent to flow through the nanoscopic three-dimensional structures of the plurality of nanostructured diamond substrates in the stack.